In a significant development, leaders of the farm unions today resolved to induct youth leader and activist Lakhbir Singh, aka Lakha Sidhana, into Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) that is spearheading the unprecedented agitation against three draconian farm laws enacted by the BJP-led union government of India, on the demand of the largest section of Punjab’s youth.
As demand was growing for the induction of Lakha, the SKM constituted a three-member committee comprising prominent union leaders Dr. Darshan Pal, Jagjit Singh Dalewal, and Baldev Singh Sirsa to talk to the section associated with Lakha and take the decision accordingly.
The committee on Thursday announced to make Sidhana part of the Morcha and expected his active participation in the agitation.
Earlier, Sidhana, along with actor-turned- activist Deep Sidhu was termed “traitors” of the movement by some of the union leaders, especially the left-leaning farm unions, initiated a vilification campaign against him because he was against the propagation of left ideology in the name of agitation against the laws. This enraged Punjab’s youth, and as a reaction to this, a grand rally was organized at village Mehraj in Bathinda district. Following this rally, another successful rally was also organized at Mastuana village of Sangrur. Because of the response getting by Sidhana in Punjab, the farm union leadership was under pressure.
Sidhana, who has commanded the youth participating in the agitation, has had an uncomfortable relationship with the farmer union leaders from the beginning, was nominated for allegedly inciting “violence” at Delhi during a tractor rally taken out on January 26. Later, he was declared as “wanted” by Delhi Police, and a reward of Rs. 2 lakh was also announced on giving information about his whereabouts. Since then, he is underground, and Delhi Police are searching for him.
However, the SKM leaders hope that he will get bail and get on the stage of agitation at the Singhu border of Delhi to address the farmers. They also sought his support in the program of marching to the Parliament of India on foot in May.
Sidhana has been serving Punjab for a long. He made a great contribution in ensuring the Punjabi language on top of the signboards installed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) along the national highways in Punjab. He faced many false cases registered by the Punjab Police.
His participation in the Morcha is expected to instill enthusiasm in the younger generation.
